Love Falls

I really enjoyed this passionate indictment of the callous world of the rich, privileged, and amoral artistic class. Not only is it beautifully written, Freud perfectly captures the sexually abusive indifference of the very rich and sophisticated toward youth, innocence, love, and parental responsibility. At first Lara seems to lead a charmed life, traveling to fabulous Italian villas for a leisurely vacation with her famous father. Who could ask for more? Except, very subtly, very slowly the veil drops, and we see that Lara is for the first time encountering her father's world of the uber rich, where being rich not only means having more money, it means expecting to get your way without needing to care if you hurt anyone, or even if you rape them. You're rich and you get to do whatever you want. Poor Lara is sweetness and innocence violated, who triumphs using her intelligence and greatness of understanding to forgive her father, as she proves herself his superior in sensibility and every human feeling that matters. I found this book to be the most truthful representation of life among the rich and depraved that I've ever read. It has its sordid moments because the rich can afford to wallow in depravity and are so well insulated from life that they don't notice how callous and hard they have become. I loved Lara and her courage to face the terribly cruel and heartless world she found herself immersed in without the protection of a loving family. As the daughter of a famous intellectual, all she has is some financial security, (certainly something many young people could envy), but otherwise she is being thrown into the most vicious, competitive, unforgiving arena imaginable, the world of the sophisticated, overly wealthy, privileged class. I found this book riveting, heartbreaking, far truer than the naughtiest gossip column, and ultimately uplifting as Lara refuses to become another victim or more fodder for the tabloids. If you want to get over you class envy, start with "Love Falls". As much as I enjoyed "Hideous Kinky", I found "Love Falls" to be far superior.

be transported to italy via the world of family and love and u will enjoy this ... book, freud is exceptional. the book is in great condition

i enjoyed this book quite a bit. it was different from what i had been reading at the time and was a nice change of pace.

I admit I bought this because of the cover, and I am glad I did because I really enjoyed it. I can relate to the characters because of Ms. Freud's descriptions, both emotionally and aesthetically. It is a vivid book, one can visualize the summer heat and feel the energy of anticipation in desire and curiosity. If you were ever a teenager you will appreciate and be reminded of all those exciting and frustrating moments. I think those are all lovely to remember, and Ms. Freud does an excellent job of reminding us of how it felt. If you are expecting erotica or graphic moments, you won't find it here, this is far better. I have never read any of her other books, but I will be reading them soon.

Seventeen years old Lara accompanied her mother as they toured the Far East together. Back at home in England, her dad Lambert invites her to come with him to Italy. Though a bit nervous as she has spent little time with dad, Lara jumps at the opportunity to spend time with her father as Lambert is a bit of a hermit. They spend the summer together in a Tuscan villa whose neighbors include a family of British millionaires with one Kip Willoughby being cute and her age. As Kip and Lara spend time together, she flirts outrageously with him until she begins to hear rumors that he is her half-brother. Did her father as an act of vengeance sire the lad to get back at his grandfather for deserting Lamb's parents during WWII in Germany? Or is just inane gossip? When the story line focuses on Lara, the audience receives a deep fascinating character study as readers see her dad, her mom, the boy next door and others through her eyes. When the tale centers on Kip's parentage, it loses steam as it veers into overly melodramatic. Still following the escapades of the teen heroine is a charmer that will send the audience seeking other works from Esther Freud (see HIDEOUS KINKY; not read by this reviewer). Harriet Klausner